Solved Invalid Control Panel Item

[badadjective]

I recently purchased a new laptop and updating some software and drivers, an invalid and blank entry has appeared in the Control Panel section of the Start Menu. Please see attached screenshot, highlighted in yellow at the very top. I have also tried a fresh install, and after updating some drivers, this appeared again.

I have checked about 2 dozen forums and articles on editing the registry in Windows 7 and deleting .cpl files, but none of the solutions address my problem. I can't find an invalid registry entry anywhere. I believe the solution lies somewhere in the registry but I can't find the correct key.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[Maguscreed]

The way I have dealt with this in the past was to use tweak ui.
I don't know if it works properly with windows 7 though.

 

[badadjective]

TweakUI does not install on Windows 7. I haven't been able to find a tool that has Control Panel editing functionality that works on Windows 7. Can someone recommend such a tool?

 

[bug67]

Does right clicking/deleting it do anything? I doubt that would do anything to a registry entry (I really have no idea. Just taking a stab) but it might make it go away in the Control Panel.

 

[badadjective]

When right clicking, the only 2 options that appear are "Create Shortcut" and "Sort by Name." Clicking "Create Shortcut" will give an error message "Windows cannot create the shortcut. Check to see if the disc is full."

There is no option to delete. It's so weird! This blank entry does not appear if you actually open the Control Panel window. It only appears in the Start Menu Control Panel as shown in the screenshot.

I know this seems like a trivial bug, but it's a bit annoying, and seems like a challenge to fix, and I feel I need to conquer this little bugger.

 

[seavixen32]

Have you had a look in the Startup folder itself?

Navigate to Start>All Programs>Startup then right-click the Startup folder and choose Explore, and then see if you can delete the unwanted icon.

 

[badadjective]

There is only one icon in the Startup folder and it points to a valid item. How is this related to the Control Panel Start Menu?

 

[seavixen32]

It's only me rambling on.

I saw the mention of the Start Menu Control Panel and assumed you were thinking of the Startup Folder, sorry about that.

Just a thought though. Do you have Windows configured to show hidden files?

 

[Maguscreed]

Here is something brink posted on the subject.
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/132565-remove-icon-control-panel.html#post1141309

apparently if you go into that registry key and look for the namespace that is blank you can just remove it there.

 

[badadjective]

I am configured to view hidden files.

I've tried the namespace solution before as well, I can't find any blank entries there so I don't know what to delete, if anything. I'm thinking there must be another place in the registry where this blank entry is listed. Any thoughts?

 

[seavixen32]

Unless you know the file extension I think it'll be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack to search the registry.

You could try booting into Safe Mode and see if you can delete it then.

Disk Cleanup may also be an option.

 

[Maguscreed]

Well there is this, which I am aware of but have no personally used.
How To Add Or Remove Control Panel Applets in Windows 7 and Vista | WinVistaClub

 

[badadjective]

Safe Mode does not help as there is still no way to delete the entry.

I am running W7 Home Premium so I don't have the Group Policy editor to modify Control Panel items.

Arg! I know there must be a way!

 

[badadjective]

In an attempt to bump this topic, I would also like to add that I've continued to search for a solution online and every forum post and website points to the same few solutions, none of which are applicable in my case. Does anyone have any further ideas? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[Maguscreed]

without a way to trace and identify the errant .cpl I really can't come up with anything.

 

[Bill2]

Try running a regular and registry cleanup with CCleaner.

 

[SundRance]

Are not the items in the Control Panel name.CPL files? Most of the main ones, appwiz.cpl (Add & Remove programs), are located in C:\Windows\System32. Using a command window CD \ and DIR *.CPL > CPLlist.txt and go carefully through the list. If there is an icon in your Control Panel, it will have to written to that list.

On my system there is more than one that sits in Program Files. I would say that would be one place to take a careful look. The System32 files, I think, belong to Windows. When looking over the list, check for anything that might be connected to any software you have recently removed from your system.

Good Luck,
Rªnce

 

[Layback Bear]

Control panel/admin tools and see if is int the left column.

 

[dooley]

Don't know if you have found a fix yet, just a thought, something you could try ... right click start globe > properties > customize > control panel > change to "Display as a link" > ok > Apply > ok >...... Then go back & change to "Display as a menu" again.

 

[badadjective]

SOLVED

After tinkering for a few hours (pathetic, I know, for a "problem" like this) I found a solution!

The issue is that with Windows 7 .cpl files do not need to be in the system32 folder, or any system folder for that matter. They can be located anywhere. However, if the namespace registry key points to an invalid location, or no location at all, you will see this totally blank icon in the Control Panel list.

The following registry location was listing a Intel WiFi Connection Utility cpl item that no longer exists and was part of an older driver version. Deleting this key successfully removed the invalid control panel item.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\{B9F96805-88EC-4952-929F-397985D7B2D7}

If anyone else has this problem, you will have to go to this registry location and delete each key one at a time until the invalid item disappears. Make sure to back up this portion of the registry first so you can restore all the valid items later.